Disadvantages of up plating

[BOOMEL]

We are going on a trip from Uk to Italy via France and Switzerland, can anyone summarise the disadvantages of up plating from 3500 to 3650kg? I am thinking

Tolls
Access to bridges / roads
Eurotunnel
Rail trips from Switzerland to Italy
Tax
Campsites
Anything else

Regards

Mike

 

[TOAD on Tour]

When coming to sell, the new owner will need C1 on their licence (we also have previously up plated to 4500kg).

edit - apologies! I just re-read and youre only interested in the disadvantages for your trip! Please ignore my contributio!

 

[The Coops]

Before/if you up plate take a colour copy of your old V5 and keep it in the van for the million to one chance you might be stopped for going 110kph in a 90 kph ( its all cameras and flashes theses days) At the toll booths they won't have access to DLVA data base so just practise the phrase * I am a motorhome/camping car class two* in the language of whatever country you are in, if it shows up on the pay screen as class three. If you are getting the crit air stickers do it before you up grade or check like our tax rates that it is not cheaper to be heavier. I am sure some may shoot me down but apart from possible speeding issues in Spain, ( 90kph on some roads max) I can't see any difference, Oh if you are buying a vignette it may be dearer for the * heavier* vehicle, I have no Idea on that as we try to avoid pay as you go tolls/motorways. You are talking a difference of 150kgs I would bet most French registered m/homes are well over weight!

 

[Oldrat]

The requirement to display the new plate, only mentions displaying it in a prominent place.

My old 3.5 plate is inside the off side door frame, so I put the new 3.9 plate in an equally prominent place, inside the Near side door frame.

There’s no requirement to remove the old one or display them side by side.

 

[L' Hobo]

We are going on a trip from Uk to Italy via France and Switzerland, can anyone summarise the disadvantages of up plating from 3500 to 3650kg? I am thinking

Tolls
Access to bridges / roads
Eurotunnel
Rail trips from Switzerland to Italy
Tax
Campsites
Anything else

Regards

Mike

Is your present list not enough for such a meagre up plating. Why so small, it hardly seems worth the time, trouble or expense unless you are going to reregister as a PHGV?

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[Solwaybuggier]

I think you can knock Eurotunnel off your list - you just select Campervan on booking page (with length.)

 

[dunnah01]

Never found any disadvantage being 4.25t on mainland but we're less than 3m high and go incognito as a 3500kg. Can't afford to go into an ever increasing number of UK cities though

 

[BOOMEL]

Is your present list not enough for such a meagre up plating. Why so small, it hardly seems worth the time, trouble or expense unless you are going to reregister as a PHGV?

We have gone to a weigh bridge and without food and clothing we are 3520kg (20kg over). We are going to a wedding in Italy and cannot afford to be delayed or incur possible fine (albeit remote). I note the UK says +-5%, however I think it is more than the fine, I really want to make a full assessment of the risk before deciding whether we up plate, wing it or go on a diet (next option is Lithium). As an example I think we go on a train between Switzerland and Italy on the way down.

Mike

 

[Figaro]

Tolls, Eurotunnel and campsites no disadvantages.
Switzerland I think over 3.5 to be you need a vignette, check cost on website, but not a huge amount.
Tax is a bonus, you pay RFT at 165 pounds as a PHGV

 

[Figaro]

As an example I think we go on a train between Switzerland and Italy on the way down.

I've heard about but never used that little train through the mountains.
You'd need to check on their website .
But there are options to avoid it if you want to.

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[The Wino]

I would have thought that the main drawback is the lower speed limits and reducing the market available when you sell to only people with the right license

 

[Guigsy]

The requirement to display the new plate, only mentions displaying it in a prominent place.

My old 3.5 plate is inside the off side door frame, so I put the new 3.9 plate in an equally prominent place, inside the Near side door frame.

There’s no requirement to remove the old one or display them side by side.

My Fiat plate is under the bonnet and says 3.85t. There's a convertor plate next to it that says 3.65t. And then the third one (that took me ages to find), which is in the footwell of the habitation door and is 3.5t. My van only has a couple of lockers and no garage, no room for junk, so the 700kg of payload is still plenty.

 

[Teedubyaa]

Is your present list not enough for such a meagre up plating. Why so small, it hardly seems worth the time, trouble or expense unless you are going to reregister as a PHGV?

We are of the same thoughts - have a Rapido V68 on order and we have the option of 3,650 upgrade - I’ll ask the dealer to put it on a Weighbridge before we collect (don’t ask when - I don’t know!!) to see if we need the upgrade. From reading these forums and YouTube videos I was under the impression that over 3,500 there are some speed restrictions and some tolls are more expensive as are some ferries?

 

[Oldrat]

Tolls, Eurotunnel and campsites no disadvantages.
Switzerland I think over 3.5 to be you need a vignette, check cost on website, but not a huge amount.
Tax is a bonus, you pay RFT at 165 pounds as a PHGV

Over 3.5 in Switzerland isn't a vignette it’s pay by mile thingy whose name escapes me at the mo

 

[DangerMousy]

Switzerland I think over 3.5 to be you need a vignette, check cost on website, but not a huge amount.

As a visitor to Switzerland its actually slightly cheaper to be over 3.5T: Vignette (CHF 40, valid for 1 year) if you're 3.5T or below. If you're over then you can buy a ticket of 10 individual days for CHF 32.50.

Its Austria that's seems to be a bit of a pain over 3.5T: vignette 3.5T and under, Go Box if you're over....which seems quite complicated compared to other countries.

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[Figaro]

Over 3.5 in Switzerland isn't a vignette it’s pay by mile thingy whose name escapes me at the mo

Yeah me too, lol.
You pay by day / week / month etc. I think I paid about 26 quid for 10 days ?

 

[Roby2008]

If you go through Germany then the allowance for overweight is 5% and its just a fine if you are stopped.

Personally, I would take out anything you don't need, run with a half full fresh water tank, make sure you empty the grey water and toilet every day plus if you have steel gas cylinders then leave one at home, finally if you have bikes, do you need them or the rack on this trip?.

I lost my licence in the EU shuffle and had to swap to a German licence and only got C and not C1 because of age, I thought about upgrading to C1 ( Medical, First Aid course and some driver training ) but with the extra costs for the weight allowance gain - Tolls.Tax. Speed limits etc, I will stay with 3500 and be selective with what we take.

 

[Lenny HB]

Over 3.5 in Switzerland isn't a vignette it’s pay by mile thingy whose name escapes me at the mo

Over 3.5t you buy a vignette (not sure what it's called) for 10 days month etc., that you mark off each day you are in the country, normally works out cheaper than under 3.5t.

 

[mikebeaches]

I think you can knock Eurotunnel off your list - you just select Campervan on booking page (with length.)

Did I hear a rumour that Eurotunnel are considering their charging structure for campers and may in future go by size and weight?

Or did I imagine that?

Secondly, I don't think it's been mentioned - many towns and villages, particularly in France, have a 3,500 kg weight limit on vehicles allowed to enter (or enter the centre of town), unless delivering.

 

[Lenny HB]

We upgraded the last van to 3850kg and current van is 4500kg, not found any disadvantages so far. We don't use toll roads but the odd occasion we have we have always been charged Class 2.
Have a much smaller van on order still ordered is on the 4250kg chassis well worth it to have a decent payload (1350kg).

With your van you should be able to go to 3850kg without any mods if you can far better and more worthwhile than 3650.
Check your rear axle loading not much point in uprating if you can't use it but that can be increased with mods.

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[Lenny HB]

Secondly, I don't think it's been mentioned - many towns and villages, particularly in France, have a 3,500 kg weight limit on vehicles allowed to enter (or enter the centre of town), unless delivering.

A lot of Aires are inside the 3.5t limit you are allowed for access and in the French tend to treat all Motorhomes as 3.5t its not worth worrying about.

 

[DavidG58]

Not for your trip but on return might you struggle with PHGV status in the rapidly increasing clean air zones, where under 3.5T might escape the charge for now the PHGV I think will be chargeable

Could work out a very expensive upgrade

 

[Lenny HB]

Not for your trip but on return might you struggle with PHGV status in the rapidly increasing clean air zones, where under 3.5T might escape the charge for now the PHGV I think will be chargeable

Could work out a very expensive upgrade

Not a problem if Euro 6.

 

[Gaston aires]

Not for your trip but on return might you struggle with PHGV status in the rapidly increasing clean air zones, where under 3.5T might escape the charge for now the PHGV I think will be chargeable

Could work out a very expensive upgrade

I find quite the opposite. Our 4.8 ton PHGV is fully compliant with LEZ zones in all cities. They class it as a delivery van.
We have never been charged.
Phil

 

[buzz1]

Our is plated at 3850 t , and I’m thinking of upgraded a bit more ,
My main concern would be if only plated to 3500 t, then had an accident and found to be over weight would insurance co pay out ???

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[L' Hobo]

With your van you should be able to go to 3850kg without any mods if you can far better and more worthwhile than 3650.
Check your rear axle loading not much point in uprating if you can't use it but that can be increased with mods.

This was my thought also, why go for just 150kl when you might as well go for 350kls and have that extra leeway for a few bottles of wine etc. Good point about the rear axle!

 

[EuroTrotters]

French and Austrian tolls, right PIA.

I use VÍA for Switzerland which is simple

 

[mikebeaches]

A lot of Aires are inside the 3.5t limit you are allowed for access and in the French tend to treat all Motorhomes as 3.5t its not worth worrying about.

I don't disagree and reckon you'd be VERY unlucky for it to be an issue, but the OP did say, "can anyone summarise the disadvantages" so I thought it wasn't unreasonable to at least alert him / her to the technical rule that often applies.

 

[cyberyacht]

Over 3.5T you have to display 'Angles Morts' so that is a bit of a giveaway if you are trying to 'fly under the radar' as 3.5T. I'm unsure what your motorhome is "e8jlveH2XSZ" so difficult to guess whether a diet is viable to keep under 3.5T. Clothes and food shouldn't be more than 40Kgs or so. Lithium batteries and Safefill gas cylinders will save weight.

 

[Lenny HB]

Over 3.5T you have to display 'Angles Morts' so that is a bit of a giveaway if you are trying to 'fly under the radar' as 3.5T.

Only in uban areas I believe, you only ever seen them on really large French vans, I've never bother with them. Loads of French lorries without them.